Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$136,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$83,951 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$73,692 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $136,000 | $154,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,720 | $118,580▲ | -$13,860 |
| 75th Percentile | $174,080 | $197,120▲ | -$23,040 |
| 90th Percentile | $217,600 | $246,400▲ | -$28,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $83,951▲ | $82,796 | +$1,155 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $119,381 | $129,062▲ | -$9,681 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $73,692▲ | $69,388 | +$4,304 |
| Total Employment | 33,600 | 41,600 | -8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $18,000 more (median: $136,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($83,951 vs $82,796 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.